Philadelphia Weekly

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NORTHERN LIBERTIES

You’ll definitely learn something hanging out with hackers who do it old-school, by making crazy shit out of post-industrial information-tech materials using even crazier machinery. Every Wed., 8pm, Hive76, 915 Spring Garden St. hive76.org

OLD CITY / WASHINGTON SQUARE / SOCIETY HILL

Brown Bag Lectures feature weekly discussions about the history and social studies of science, technology and medicine. You’d be surprised how interesting they can be. Every Tues., noon. Free. Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut St. 215.925.2222. chemheritage.org

Science on Tap is free but you better buy a drink. Monthly discussions with special guests about science in the damp and relaxing environs of a pub. Every second Mon., 6pm. National Mechanics, 22 S. Third St. 215.7014883. nationalmechanics.com

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania hosts a class, lecture or workshop pretty much every weeknight evening with titles like “An American Hero in the Age of Sail” and “Culinary Ephemera: A Delicious History.” Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust, 215.732.6200. hsp.org

Soothe your soul and invigorate your body with other crunchy and curious folks at Yoga for five bucks. Sun., 9am and Mon., 2pm. $5. Dhyana Yoga, 68 N. Second St. 215.222.YOGA. dhyana-yoga.com

The Moonstone Arts Center is the place for anyone who writes poems and stories and who wants to meet others who have actually published and made money from it. Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th St. 215.735.9598. moonstoneartscenter.org

RITTENHOUSE

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia hosts day and evening lectures and seminars, free and open to the public about wholesome subjects like the Elephant Man (April 11) or the history of childbirth (April 13). Plus, the Mutter Museum is your one-stop shop to learn about medical anomalies and grotesqueries. Mutter Museum, 19 S. 22nd St. 215.563.3737. collphyphil.org

UNIVERSITY CITY

The University of Pennsylvania offers a free public lecture/seminar/roundtable/workshop/discussion everywhere you turn. One worth attending is the Institute for Environmental Studies’ weekly seminars on topics such as “Marcellus Shale: The future direction of energy production and PA and NY, and its environmental impact.” Every Mon., noon. University of Pennsylvania, 3440 Market St. upenn.edu

The Whenever Wednesday series is free and features happy hour, with a weekly rotation of lectures, discussion, and screenings, usually followed by a wine and cheese reception that’s also free. Interesting upcoming topics include an Ayurveda workshop, where you can learn more about the traditional Indian medicine system and philosophy. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St. 215.898.7108, icaphila.org

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts offers public community classes including life drawing (read: naked people) for $5 per class. Lectures and seminars at the venerable academy step up the price range to $25. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 18 S. 36th St. 215.972.7600. pafa.org

WEST PHILLY

Yoga, this time pay what you can. With these kinds of yoga classes all over the city, we’ll be up to our ears in healthy, centered people. Thurs., 6pm and Fri., 5:30pm. Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave. 215.387.3434. studio34yoga.com